Comments on: When Funding Spoils Startups http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/ Connecting the dots ... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:03:39 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: TechCrunch in the Toilet| Zoli’s Blog http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-10310 TechCrunch in the Toilet| Zoli’s Blog Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:09:46 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-10310 [...] but for many people it’s a true ritual.)   The company, which just a year ago was 4 guys cramped together in a two-bedroom live-and-work apartment has grown to 20 employees and picked up two rounds of [...] [...] but for many people it’s a true ritual.)   The company, which just a year ago was 4 guys cramped together in a two-bedroom live-and-work apartment has grown to 20 employees and picked up two rounds of [...]

]]> By: Rod http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1380 Rod Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:00:17 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1380 I bet that payperpost guy with his RockStar reality TV show (or whatever) has an Executive Assistant. Tracy - if that's the degree of your involvement in a startup, isn't it somewhat demeaning to be just be considered an assistant? Executive Assistant seems like a poor descriptor for "Business Manager," "Business Development Lead," and "PR Hack," and "Operations Manager." I bet that payperpost guy with his RockStar reality TV show (or whatever) has an Executive Assistant.

Tracy – if that’s the degree of your involvement in a startup, isn’t it somewhat demeaning to be just be considered an assistant? Executive Assistant seems like a poor descriptor for “Business Manager,” “Business Development Lead,” and “PR Hack,” and “Operations Manager.”

]]> By: Flemming http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1379 Flemming Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:06:16 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1379 Zoli, Your romantic (but naive) idea about what makes or breaks a start-up made me smile. However, there is not really anything to suggest that your chances of success increases the more laid back, unstructured and disorganised you run your company. An assistant is in fact a highly effective force multiplier that enables the manager to spend his or her time more cost-effectively and do more of what they are great at. Finding ways of levering the founder’s skills and vision to the max is always going to be a challenge for any start-up. I suspect the main difference between the two companies you describe is that the people from Socializer know this from experience while the others don’t. I’m sure they will learn it though. What is not clear from your article though is why you believe Socializer has been spoiled by their funding? Zoli,

Your romantic (but naive) idea about what makes or breaks a start-up made me smile.

However, there is not really anything to suggest that your chances of success increases the more laid back, unstructured and disorganised you run your company.

An assistant is in fact a highly effective force multiplier that enables the manager to spend his or her time more cost-effectively and do more of what they are great at.

Finding ways of levering the founder’s skills and vision to the max is always going to be a challenge for any start-up.

I suspect the main difference between the two companies you describe is that the people from Socializer know this from experience while the others don’t. I’m sure they will learn it though.

What is not clear from your article though is why you believe Socializer has been spoiled by their funding?

]]> By: Zach Coelius http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1378 Zach Coelius Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:40:35 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1378 Who knows web 3.0 might be like fashion and bring back all the old silliness of the last era. I personally can't wait for the million dollar launch parties. Who knows web 3.0 might be like fashion and bring back all the old silliness of the last era. I personally can’t wait for the million dollar launch parties.

]]> By: Dan Swearingen http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1377 Dan Swearingen Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:28:40 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1377 Ok, it looks bad at a glance but it might be really helpful -- I'm a very bright but way Aspergery kind of guy. On the few occasions I had exec-assistant help it was a HUGE help in my productivity as a manager/developer becuase even though I give good phone it is mentally very exhausting for me. Bill Gates was probably not the point guy on the phone at MS in the early days. Ok, it looks bad at a glance but it might be really helpful — I’m a very bright but way Aspergery kind of guy. On the few occasions I had exec-assistant help it was a HUGE help in my productivity as a manager/developer becuase even though I give good phone it is mentally very exhausting for me. Bill Gates was probably not the point guy on the phone at MS in the early days.

]]> By: Zoli Erdos http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1376 Zoli Erdos Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:27:20 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1376 Tracy, don't get me wrong, I'm not against assitants in general... just not too early. I'm sure in your past jobs you supported more than just 2 ppl. :-) Tracy, don’t get me wrong, I’m not against assitants in general… just not too early. I’m sure in your past jobs you supported more than just 2 ppl. :-)

]]> By: Tracy Coyle http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1375 Tracy Coyle Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:20:43 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1375 Speaking as an assistant that can proof some code, tweak a website, answer phones, find a supplier, get some lunch, handle interlopers and still not cost an arm and a leg, it seems to me that a start-up team could use help with the mundane things while concentrating on building! But I am underemployed, so what do I know! Speaking as an assistant that can proof some code, tweak a website, answer phones, find a supplier, get some lunch, handle interlopers and still not cost an arm and a leg, it seems to me that a start-up team could use help with the mundane things while concentrating on building!

But I am underemployed, so what do I know!

]]> By: Zoli Erdos http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1374 Zoli Erdos Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:02:53 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1374 Let's see: 1 person for development, 1 to place calls, 1 to run the show - nice balance :-) Let’s see: 1 person for development, 1 to place calls, 1 to run the show – nice balance :-)

]]> By: John Silvers http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1373 John Silvers Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:36:46 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/12/when-funding-spoils-startups/#comment-1373 I just got a call from a CEO's assistant, who then patched me through to the CEO (ie, the CEO had the assistant place the call on her behalf). Knowing that this is a 3 or 4 person company, the same thought ran through my head... what is this company thinking? I know, too, that they're a frugal group, they watch their spending. Or so I thought. I just got a call from a CEO’s assistant, who then patched me through to the CEO (ie, the CEO had the assistant place the call on her behalf). Knowing that this is a 3 or 4 person company, the same thought ran through my head… what is this company thinking? I know, too, that they’re a frugal group, they watch their spending. Or so I thought.

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